if Wishes were horses Part 30,Page 79,3rd November - Page 2

Kolkata called the city of joy is absolutely true to it's title.Notwithstanding the hardships she faces everyday,the smile still finds a way back to her lips when the sun takes leave for the day in the evening.And this feeling rests in the two houses on the Lake Road, one of the posh areas of South Kolkata.These houses were built by Khanak and Gunjan's grandfathers after they fled from East Pakistan ( Bangladesh) during 1947 and took refuge in this city and have made it their home since.

Gunjan being the elder of the two among the siblings,was pampered by everyone in the family and this irritated Sankalp,her younger brother to no end. An absolute beauty,elegance was her second name.To an onlooker she looked like a porcelain doll. Her childhood was not like other children who could eat anything, go wherever and do as they pleased. Her diet, activities and dreams were restricted from the day she started understanding her health condition.Therefore she had two overprotective parents and a doting grandmother who was always ready to bend for her and a sulking brother but who loved her equally. Owing to her health,she could never exert herself in academics. Not that she had any inclination on that front.

On the otherhand was her friend Khanak for whom expressing everything physically was all she knew and grew up believing. An absolute tomboy, she was the exact opposite of what Gunjan was. A brilliant student throughout school and college, football was her passion and was a gifted singer though never bothered to get coached even though Swagata, her mother was a trained singer herself. She believed in today,now. Living for the moment was all she knew and loved.Brooding and repenting were not a part of her.Brought up in a liberal family,speaking her mind came naturally to her.As they say opposites attract,so here was a relationship which though physically resembled chalk and cheese,blended like salt and water when it came to their minds.They could read each other like the back of their hands.

It was a beautiful November evening.Gunjan was putting the syringe away when Khanak stormed into her room.She jumped on the bed and hugged Gunjan tightly.

Gunjan's room was very tastefully done just like her. It had a sprawling bed with lilac linen.The walls were a light hue of aqua and the one against which the bed was placed, was a moss green.The room had a wood carved dresser with a huge mirror gifted to her by Dadi Ma who in turn got it on her wedding had her cosmetics neatly stacked.On the right hand side of the bed was a very comfortable couch which she mostly used for gazing at the stars on clear nights. There was a huge almirah which stored her very chic wardrobe.

Gunju!! East Bengal picked up the League trophy today defeating Mohun Bagan 4-0. I am ecstatic!!!I think this was the best domestic match i watched till date. Subrata was awesome!!

Gunjan in an attempt to stop her from the never-ending rants,asked her if she's had dinner.

Of course not!!mujhe tere saath khana hai aur Dadi ma ne kaha tha aaj mere pasand ka dal banegaa.So here I am Senorita to grace this very important dinner.

Khanak can't you behave like a girl for once? Look at you!!always in a worn out tee,shorts which don't even cover bare decency

(not washed for over a month),hair combed once every week,you look horrendous!! Can't you ever wear something that girls wear'.

Kyun sabko daraana chaahati hai Gunju?Mujhe un kapdon mien dekhke sab behosh ho jaayenege.Moreover who cares!!!As long as my friends,family and teachers don't disown me,i am good'.

Gunjan knew very well that whatever she's been saying for so long has fallen on deaf ears. At times she felt that Khanak could never ever feel like a woman.Just then Babaji,the family's trusted help comes in to call the girls for dinner. At the dinner table, Khanak eats to her hearts' content,absolutely unaware that her munching was creating quite a few heads to turn and take notice.

Khanak, aaram se toh khaana khaa le raja'aise khaane se sehat nahin banti.

Sorry Dadi!!Par khana itna yummy hai ki mujhse rukaa nahi jaa raha'.Babaji zindabad!!!

Pata nahin is ladki ko kab akl aayegi(Mrs.Kejriwal says to herself)

So the dinner finally gets over with Khanak burping loudly as a testimony certifying how delicious the dinner was.

Khanak,you should always say "I'm sorry, i burped".What's wrong with you? It's high time you learnt some etiquettes.

Gunju,do you do the same when you burp otherwise??

Hearing this all that an appalled Gunjan could manage was a gasp'Just then her laptop beeped and she ran to her room'..

Please comment and let me know how you find it.Am frantically biting my nails